Colin Powell

Colin Luther Powell (April 5, 1937 – October 18, 2021) was an American politician, statesman, diplomat, and United States Army officer. He served as the 65th United States Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005, becoming the first African American to hold the position. Powell started his career in the military and rose to the rank of four-star general, serving as the 12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1989 to 1993. He was also the 15th United States National Security Advisor from 1987 to 1989. Born in New York City to Jamaican immigrant parents, Powell was educated in the New York City public schools and earned a bachelor's degree in geology from the City College of New York. He had a distinguished military career spanning 35 years, and his last military assignment was as commander of the U.S. Army Forces Command in 1989.